Odyssey House Journals

“FENTANYL RIPPED THE SOUL OUT OF MY BODY”   When Jake first tried opioids “it felt like I was being hugged by a warm blanket,” but after that it was hell. This highly intelligent, insightful person has now found sobriety and his true purpose in life. Find out how he learned to love and forgive himself. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute Odyssey Journals podcast on the...

HER BROTHER WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY LIGHTNING   She used drugs as a way to cope with that loss. This amazing, intelligent and personable woman is named Nine.(She’ll explain where that came from.) She was addicted to meth for a decade. “I was a slave.” Now she’s loving life sober and can’t wait to be reunified with her daughter. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute Odyss...

THIS KIND, GENTLE MAN WASN’T ALWAYS SO KIND AND GENTLE   Selwyn admits that anger took over when he drank and used meth. He often faced federal charges because he was arrested on the Ute reservation where he lived. Find out the steps he’s taking to make sure “that anger won’t destroy my life.” Hear about his Native American pride in this edition of Odyssey House Journals. Watch or listen and hopef...

“I’M NO LONGER A SKATE PARK BUM”   Now Tony wears a suit every day as he goes through a treatment program to deal with his past use of alcohol, meth and crack. He blames a toxic relationship for his latest relapse. Why he always wears a suit and his goal of owning a flooring company in this edition of Odyssey House Journals. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute Odyssey J...

DEALING WITH ADDICTION & MENTAL ILLNESS AT THE SAME TIME   Kelly is a winner. She is successfully staying sober while coping with severe and persistent mental illness. Her amazing therapist, Lani Gailey, joins us for what turns out to be a love fest between her and Kelly. Watching this podcast will turn you into fans of both women. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minut...

IT ALL STARTED WITH PANIC ATTACKS AT 8 YEARS OLD   Boom! From there Darci Shelton went through various addictions, opioids, meth, eating disorders and her daughter taken away by DCFS. Fast forward to today. 13 years sober, working at Wasatch Crest Treatment Center, reunited with her daughter. This edition of Odyssey House Journals follows the wild ride of her life. Watch or listen and hopefully su...

SAVING SEX TRAFFICKED WOMEN & GIVING THEM HOPE   When she was a kindergarten teacher, Jana Christiansen discovered 5 of her students were being sold by their parents for sex. Now she’s in charge of Aspen House which provides a safe haven to help sex trafficked women to heal and succeed in life. She reveals some shocking stories in this edition of Odyssey House Journals. Watch or listen and hop...

HEROIN DEADENED THE PAIN AFTER HIS FRIEND WAS SHOT TO DEATH   Arian started drinking at age 5, smoking pot at 10, and turning to meth at 16. He’s been in and out of treatment for years, admitting he’s been manipulating the system. This time around he’s ready for recovery. Find out why a 3 year old boy is part of the reason. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute Odyssey Jo...

SLC POLICE CHIEF ANSWERS CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS   Chief Brian Redd is totally open about how his department is dealing with drug addiction, mental illness, homelessness and crime. You might be surprised to hear how some new programs are working and ‘how having a skid row in Salt Lake is totally unacceptable.’  Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the followin...

HE HELPED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FIND RECOVERY   Tim Whalen is retiring after several decades in charge of substance use and mental health programs in Salt Lake County. His impact is so great and his programs have been so progressive that the county is recognized around the nation as one of the best. He tears up as he talks about why this job has been his passion. Watch or listen and hope...

THIS COLLEGE ALL-AMERICAN TRADED BASKETBALL FOR ALCOHOL   Jason has always tried to figure out 'where did I come from, who am I?’ after living in foster care from the age of 2 through 13. From Texas to Utah, he has quite a story as he goes through his 3rd try at recovery. Why he says he will succeed this time around in this edition of Odyssey House Journals. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe...

“FOR THE PAST 22 YEARS I HAVE USED HARDCORE”   It started when Kelli was 19, stealing pain pills from a dentist office where she worked. Later it was IV heroin. 5 felonies for prescription fraud. She was kicked out of drug court. “I wanted to get sober. I just couldn’t figure out how.” NOW she’s figured it out. Find out how in this edition of Odyssey House Journals. Watch or listen and hopefully s...

“I WANT TO BE A SOBER GRANDMA”   Kim’s son said: “Mom, get some help for your heroin addiction or you won’t have a relationship with my family.” Despite being afraid, Kim went into treatment. Her son even helped her get in. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals Kim talks about “how great it is getting to know me again.”  Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast o...

“I WAS SMOKING METH OUT OF A LIGHT BULB”   And that was the last time Kim Gomez got high. Her story is a wild one going from the depths of addiction and domestic violence to forming a non profit called Kourageous Vision that has helped over 1900 women learn positive life skills. Hear how one thing turned her life around in this edition of Odyssey House Journals. Watch or listen and hopefully subsc...

‘I WAS A FULL BLOWN ALCOHOLIC AT 19”   Luis started drinking at 13, became a dad at 15, and had the shakes without a drink at 19. 17 years later he’s working on recovery both for himself and to reestablish a relationship with his daughter. Click on the Odyssey House Journals podcast to find out why he’s saying he loves every second of sobriety. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the...

“I PRAYED TO GOD THAT I WOULD GET CLEAN” And now she is. McKenzie had dabbled with meth, but became a full blown addict when her mom (her best friend) died and she lost custody of one daughter. “I spiraled.” In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she goes from using fake pee to now fully embracing recovery. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the following...

THIS PEOPLE PLEASER HAS FINALLY LEARNED HOW TO SAY NO   Jordan ended up homeless, addicted, living on the street after what she calls an abusive relationship. Fast forward to today where she’s in long term recovery and ready to reunify with her children. “I’m excited for what comes next.” Follow her transformation in this edition of Odyssey House Journals. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (...

IV HEROIN ADDICT AT 16. NOW A SOBER, LOVING MOM   Rachel is an amazing woman with a wild story to share. She was basically a drug using rebel who started so young after childhood trauma. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals follow her journey which sounds like fiction, but is raw reality. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the following platforms with t...

MEET AN ADDICTED ENABLER. A DEDICATED FIXER.   Christine Carlisle spent 12 years enabling addicted loved ones, thinking enough love will solve everything. Now, as a therapist and clinician, she realizes how wrong she was. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she emotionally shares “the hardest thing in my life.” Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the fo...

“THE MOST GENTLE PEOPLE I’VE EVER MET”   Sarah Hensley is talking about people she supervises in boarding homes. These are people with severe and persistent mental illness. She wants all of us to treat them with basic human decency, not fear. Why does she care so much? “Because I was one of them.” Her compelling story in this edition of Odyssey House Journals. Watch or listen and hopefully subscri...

FROM BLACKOUT DRUNK TO HIGH POWERED EXECUTIVE   She was in court on her 16th birthday, giving up custody of her newborn son, and she spent the next 16 years numbing herself. ARE YOU READY FOR THE GOOD NEWS? She’s been sober for the past 18 years and is leaving an amazing mark on the world. Molly Johnston’s story is in this week’s Odyssey House Journals. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (fre...

SHE’S FIGHTING BACK AGAINST SEX TRAFFICKERS   Amber Kehl was a victim for years, doing sex work to support her drug addiction, always controlled by others. Now she’s becoming a strong voice for survivors and everyone who wants recovery. If you check out this edition of Odyssey House Journals, you will be impressed and amazed with this incredible woman.   learn more at odysseyhouse.org

PREGNANT, ADDICTED, HOMELESS. WHAT DO I DO? Mary Johnston made the right choice 9 years ago when she entered a treatment program and she’s never looked back. In this edition of Odyssey House Journals she says she’s learned to be independent, not co-dependent especially when it comes to men. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the following platforms with the...

HE OVERDOSED OVER 20 TIMES AND STILL KEPT USING He spent months in the hospital and years behind bars and now “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!” Mike is 17 months sober. He’s happy. He wants to make his dad proud. His amazing journey in this edition of Odyssey House Journals. How did he do it? Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podcast on the following platforms with the following li...

HE RELAPSED! “NOW I’M A WORK IN PROGRESS” Bryan was a shining star in the treatment program, but after 14 months of sobriety, he relapsed. Why? What goes through his mind? Will he make it this time around? In this edition of Odyssey House Journals he takes an honest, sobering look at recovery and why the journey is so difficult. Watch or listen and hopefully subscribe (free) to the 30 minute podca...